'It is incredibly difficult living with a heart defect'

It causes her heart muscle to become abnormally thick, making it harder for the heart to pump blood.

The teenager, first referred to Ty Hafan aged 13, has been in and out of hospital hundreds of times and has an increased risk of suffering heart failure.

Katie also has Noonan-Like Syndrome, which causes extremely slow or restricted growth.

Katie Palmer with her mum Lisa

The teenager, who describes the Ty Hafan hospice as a wonderful, loving and comforting place, said: “It was such a privilege to represent Ty Hafan. I had such a great time!

“It is incredibly difficult living with a heart defect, especially when you become a teenager and are restricted from doing things a normal teenager would do.”

Katie says she feels a sense of calm when she walks through the hospice’s doors, where staff take care of her medical needs allowing her to concentrate on enjoying her favourite activities.

Her mum Lisa can choose to stay at the hospice or enjoy time at their home in Tonyrefail with her other daughter, Lucy.

Katie's story and living with Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

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She said: “As much as I love having Katie around, it’s really lovely to have that time to recharge my batteries and enjoy an early night, or even a full night’s sleep for a change!

“Knowing that Katie loves it when she goes and knowing how phenomenal the staff are, is such a relief and a real comfort for me.

“There have been some life-threatening situations when Katie has had to go into hospital and it’s been very touch and go.

“It makes you appreciate all the small things and realise that it’s only the people you love that truly matter.”

Katie has aspirations to become an actress and would love to have a family one day, while continuing to help others facing a similar situation to her.

She added: “There’s always going to be big challenges that I have to face, but I will face them with strength, hope and faith.

“I hope to bring comfort to each and every family supported by Ty Hafan with my favourite quote – ‘life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.’”

'Her words touched the room'

David Loosemore, who organises Chefs’ Night Out with his friend Huw Edwards, said: “The night went incredibly smoothly and that is thanks to our dedicated team and the skill and camaraderie of our chefs.

“We have raised a vast amount of money for this wonderful cause and Huw and I can’t thank our team enough.

“Special mention must also go to our guest of honour, Katie, who regularly attends Ty Hafan. Her words touched the room and I’m sure contributed to bidders digging that little bit deeper.”